Members of the public in Cape Town have been queuing since Monday to receive medical care from army medics aboard a Chinese floating hospital. Despite the miserable winter weather, including snow on Table Mountain and gale force winds, residents are enthusiastic about the free healthcare being offered due to a financial crisis that has left public services underfunded. The Chinese ship, known as the Peace Ark, has treated over 2,000 South Africans for various medical conditions since arriving last week. This initiative showcases China’s strong political partnership with South Africa and is seen as a display of Beijing’s soft power. The ship has a capacity of 700 patients per day and offers a range of medical services, including surgeries and wellness visits. The popularity of the Peace Ark highlights the challenges faced by South Africa’s public health system, which is struggling to meet the needs of its citizens. AFP Ya ha visitado las Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar y Mozambique – en esta su décima excursión desde que fue comisionado en 2008.
La iniciativa se ve como un paso más en los esfuerzos de China por aumentar su influencia en el continente africano.
En las últimas dos décadas, su comercio con África ha crecido constantemente, mientras que Beijing también ha estado cada vez más involucrado en el sector de la construcción – incluyendo la construcción de grandes estadios deportivos en varias partes del continente.
Más historias de la BBC sobre Sudáfrica:
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